Dimmer for automobile-lamps.



W. H. J. DOWNEY.

DIMMER FOR AUTOMOBILE LAMPS APPLICATION- EILED AUG. I0. 1917.

Patented Nov. 13, 1917.,

attozuug WILLIAM H. J. DOWNEY, 0F WILMINGTON, DELAWARE.

DIMMER FOR AUTOMOBILE-LAMPS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed August 10, 1917. Serial Nb. 185,558.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that WILLIAM H. J. DOWNEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at \Vilmington, in the county of New Castle and State of Delaware, has invented certain new and useful Improvements in Dimmers for Automobile-Lamps; and he does hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same. refer nce being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in a" dimming device for automobile and other lamps and consists of a simple and efficient device which may be detachably attached to the usual reflector now in use.

The invention consists further in the provision of a dimming device comprising various details of construction, combinations and arrangments of parts which will be hereinafter fully described, shown in the accompanying drawings and then specifically defined in the appended claims.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings which, with the letters of reference marked thereon, form a part of this specification and in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevation showing the dimmer attached to the reflector of a lamp.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view on line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view on line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view showing means for attaching one end of the dimmer to the reflector.

Reference now being had to the details of the drawings by letter:

A designates a reflector of the usual make to which the dimmer is to be applied. The frame of the dimmer is of the general shape shown in Figs. 1 and 4 of the drawings and which is of oval shape with the opposite sides inclined and made of any suitable material. The dimmer frame is provided with two integral plates, which are designated by letter C and which are bent at an angle, designated by letter D, and are parallel to each other. The frame of the dimmer has lips, designated by letter E, struck up at intervals to one another and adapted to receive the inclined ends of the plates H which are inserted between the lips and afterward securely held by the plates, being soldered through. Said plates are positioned parallel to one another and may be of different widths, as shown clearly in Fig. 3 of the drawings, in order to get the best effect in dimming the light from the lamp. At one end of the frame is a pin, designated by letter K which is adapted to pass through the aperture A in the reflector and the opposite swinging end is detachablv held to the reflect0r through the medium of a coiled spring R, one of its angled ends passing through an aperture in the frame and which holds the spring against the face of the frame and the other end of the spring is also bent at an angle forming a pin which passes through an aperture L in the frame and also a registering aperture S formed in the reflector. The resiliency of said spring will hold its pin end in engagement with the frame of the dimmer and when it is desired to remove the reflector the spring may be raised up, either by hand or by any instrument, suificiently to cause the end of the spring to be withdrawn from the registering apertures, after which the pin at the opposite end may be withdrawn from the aperture in the reflector.

It will be noted, upon reference to Fig. 3 of the drawings, that the peculiar shape of the frame of the dimmer brings the same in contact with the inner surface of the deflector which is of conical shape and the outer edges of the various wings are in a plane flush with the outer flaring end of the reflector. By positioning the dimmer blades in parallel relation to one another and having the blades of different depths, the glare from the reflector surface will be broken up and the full benefit of the lamp will be directed forwardly.

By the provision of a dimmer made in accordance with my invention, it will be noted that the same may be easily and quickly applied to the ordinary reflector commonly in use upon automobiles.

What I claim to be new is:

1. A dimmer for automobilelamps, comprising a reflector, a dimmer having an oblon'g inclined frame with parallel dimming plates mounted therein, said reflector having oppositely disposed apertures formed therein, a pin pro ecting from one end of Patented Nov; 13, 1%)17.

the frame and adapted to engage one of said apertures, and a spring fastened to the frame and having an end adapted to project through the registering apertures in 5 the frame and the reflector,as set forth.

2. A dimmer for automobile lamps, comrising a reflector, a dimmerhavin an obong inclined frame with parallel imming plates mounted therein, said reflector having oppositely disposed apertures formed therein, a pin projecting from one end of the frame and adapted to engage one of said apertures, a spring fastened to the frame and having an end adapted to pro1ect through the registering aperturesin the 15 frame and reflector, and .a coiled spring having ends bent at angles, one end fastened in an aperture in the frame and the other end passing through registering apertures, in said frame and reflector. 7

WILLIAM H. J. DOWNEY. Witnesses: I

A. L. HOUGH, 7

FRANKLIN H. HOUGH. 

